Cross Udo, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Dutse, Jigawa State said that the newly inaugurated 5,700 hectares Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme in Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa State will significantly contribute to Nigeria’s quest for food security, job creation, and economic diversification.

The President spoke at a state banquet after commissioning several projects executed by the Federal Government, the Jigawa State Government, and the Malam Alu Farm Project, a private enterprise championed by Farouk Adamu Aliyu.

He urged the host community to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the gigantic irrigation infrastructure, saying “It will be a small part in our overall quest to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.”

Buhari also charged the Jigawa State Government to sustain its commitment to the Agricultural Sector, acknowledging the success of the Cluster System introduced by the present administration of Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar under the slogan “Farming is a Business”.

During his one-day official visit to Jigawa State the President visited four local government areas to inaugurate projects including the Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme at Auyo, Birnin Kudu Specialist Hospital, Malam Alu Integrated Agro-Allied Farm, Birnin Kudu and the dualized Unity-Pentagon-Fanisau Road.

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At the farm, the President unveiled a 50.3 metres flagpole, described as the tallest in the country by Hon. Aliyu.

He also had an aerial view of some of the roads, infrastructure, bridges, and places affected by the flood disaster in September 2022, which affected many parts of Jigawa State.

Buhari used the occasion to express sympathies for the flood victims, promising more relief materials to them.

“While I was previously briefed on the scale of the devastations with regards to loss of lives, destruction of farm lands and public infrastructure, today I was able to personally see the extent of the damage.

“Flying from Auyo through Kafin Hausa and some parts of Miga, Jahun, Kiyawa, Dutse, and Birnin Kudu Local Governments, I was able to have an aerial view of some of the affected roads, infrastructure, and bridges.

“Even though the Federal Government provided relief materials largely in form of foodstuffs through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs during the period of the flood, I want to assure the Government and People of Jigawa State that more relief would be provided through the National Committee that was set up by the Federal Government,” he said.

The President commended Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar for his resounding achievements in the State, noting that he didn’t expect anything less from the man nicknamed “Mai Calculator”.

He also felicitated the citizens of the State for the unprecedented developments they have witnessed over the years.

He noted that the projects commissioned during his state visit were ‘‘only the tip of the iceberg,’’ adding that only one out of about 18 new general hospitals was inaugurated.

Buhari expressed delight that each of the thirty constituencies in the State would soon boast of a full-fledged secondary health facility.

He urged the State government to sustain the reputation of the State with one of the highest road networks in the country.

On the Mallam Alu Farms in Birnin Kudu, the President described it as another commendable project which perfectly aligns with the administration’s agricultural transformation agenda.

He commended Honorable Farouk Adamu Aliyu for championing this wonderful project, saying:

On the forthcoming general elections, the President restated his call on Nigerians to remain peaceful.

“Despite some of the challenges that continued to test the process of our democracy, I strongly believe, we have witnessed in the last seven years, the entrenchment of the true principles and ideals of democratic governance in Nigerian Polity.

“This has been one of the hallmarks of this Administration. I must emphasize that tolerance and understanding are vital to the conduct of free elections,” he stressed.

Earlier, at the palace of Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje, President Buhari promised to look into the requests of the State Government on the availability of fertilizers and other farm inputs to boost local agricultural production.

The President said Nigeria and Morocco had an existing agreement on fertilizer production, which will complement the existing 44 blending plants in the country.

The Governor of Jigawa State told the President that the State would remain grateful to the Federal Government for several completed and ongoing projects in the transport, education, health, social investments, agriculture, and security sectors.

“Since your administration, we have never seen it better in the life of Jigawa State,’’ he said during the banquet in honour of the President.

“We cannot thank you enough for food security, especially the Anchor Borrowers Programme. Today we see farming in Jigawa as a business and some farmers in the State are among the richest in Nigeria,” he added.

Badaru also lauded the President for his intervention in the States of the Federation for the payment of salaries, provision of infrastructure, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, running into trillions of naira.

He said from the Paris Club Refund to States alone, Jigawa State received a total of N43bn.

“With your intervention, we were able to do all the projects we promised the people. All these monies kept us in government and I can beat my chest and say that I have adequately delivered and done well for the people.

“Whatever we do in Jigawa State we owe it to your magnanimity and your support and this support is across all the States and party lines,” he said.

On the Irrigation Scheme, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleman Adamu explained that the intervention, expected to boost food production, covered the rehabilitation of Hadejia Barrage; rehabilitation and expansion of Irrigation and Drainage systems covering a net area of 5,780 hectares; and the rehabilitation and concrete lining of 2.86km of the main Feeder Canal.

He recalled that Buhari flagged off the commencement of works at Hadejia in 2018, under the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project by the Ministry with the support of the World Bank.

The Minister listed the main beneficiaries of the full components of the TRIMING Project as basin stakeholders, irrigation and drainage entities, water user associations, farmers, and villagers in the Project areas.

According to him, the following River Basins (RB) in the country are covered by the current phase of the Project: ‘‘Sokoto-Rima RB, involving Bakolori and Middle Rima Valley Irrigation Schemes, and the rehabilitation of Goronyo and Zobe Dams.’’

Others are Hadejia Jama’are

RB, involving Kano River and Hadejia Valley Irrigation Schemes; the rehabilitation of Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dams, Hadejia Barrage, and Ruwan Kanya Reservoir.

The Upper Benue River Basin Development, involving Dadin Kowa and Guyuk Irrigation Schemes, as well as the rehabilitation of Dadin Kowa Dam are also beneficiaries of the current phase of the project.